to Edmonton Oilers
Elvis Merzlikins (3y @ $5.4000m)
Ivan Provorov (1y @ $4.7250m)
total cap = $10.1250m (open $0.8750m)
important note = Edmonton cap dumps Skinner to 3rd team after
to Columbus Blue Jackets
Jack Campbell (3y @ $5.0000m)
Mattias Ekholm (2y @ $6.0000m)
total cap = $11.0000m (add $0.8750m)
important note = Columbus trades Ekholm to playoff team after
EDIT - Also want to say: if people think the trade value is off but the trade works in terms of roster players, would be interested to hear what people would wanted added to the trade (picks/prospects) to make it work.
Edmonton reasoning:
Edmonton does NOT want to move Ekholm AT ALL, but they aren't going to be able to win a cup with their goaltending situation. Provorov is a downgrade for sure on Ekholm, but he isn't a useless bum either. Cap hit is decent, contract is only 1 year long. Merzlikins seems to have declined a little bit, and then the coaches decided to start playing other goalies. Is this a locker room thing? Merzlikins mentally checked out / wants out? Maybe Columbus fans can chime in but, from the little I've read, I'm not convinced it's only because of his play. I think he can be a good goalie elsewhere and Columbus wants to move him. It's very probable IMO that he'll be a big upgrade on Jack Campbell. Edmonton could then dump Skinner elsewhere for a 7th rounder or future considerations, and sign a cheap backup goalie to help with their cap situation. Teams that pop into my head that would maybe take Skinner for free would be Buffalo, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Winnipeg, Los Angeles.
Columbus reasoning:
It's clear that Columbus wants to move on from Merzlikins, and it doesn't seem like Provorov has come in and become a part of their long-term plans. This trade allows Columbus to move out Merzikins and let Tarasov take over. Greaves and Campbell can battle it out for the backup spot, and then once Greaves needs waivers next summer, Campbell can play in the AHL to finish his contract. Columbus obviously wouldn't think paying $5 million per year to Campbell is a good thing, especially if he's in the AHL, but they're swapping out Provorov for Ekholm here. They could maybe keep him, but I think the smarter thing to do would be to then shop Ekholm to playoff teams and get a really nice return involving young NHLers, good prospects or high picks. Basically, the new Columbus GM is moving on from guys that aren't in future plans, and also adding at least one or two GOOD young pieces into the system (Ekholm trade to 3rd team after), at the cost of bringing in a 3 year overpaid goalie who's gonna play backup and AHL, or maybe just AHL. Tarasov is unlikely to get a HUGE raise next summer, and Greaves getting a huge raise this summer isn't happening. The overall goalie budget (both actual dollars and cap) should be manageable over the next 3 years with Tarasov Greaves Campbell.
Potential trade modifications:
If this trade seems to kind of make sense but not fully work, something like Broberg could potentially be added in. Bourgault maybe but I don't think Columbus wants young wingers. Edmonton doesn't have a lot of good picks or prospects to work with. Maybe add in Kulak and one of Boqvist or Gudbranson? I don't know. These are just random ideas that popped into my head, in case the deal is close but needs tweaking.